Archive for July, 2007

Beaver Falls, NY — When the NASCAR Busch East Series took the green flag in the Edge Hotel 150 at Adirondack International Speedway, Max Dumarey, driver of the No. 16 BODYCOACH.NET Chevrolet was confident the team had given him a car capable of finishing in the top-10. But when a car spun on lap 32, Dumarey had nowhere to go and made contact. The team spent the rest of the day playing catch-up and settled for a 17th place finish.

“The car was great in the beginning of the race. After just a few laps we were 14th and I was just cruising around. I’m sure we had a top-10 or even better. The 30 spun and I couldn’t avoid it. That hit messed up the front geometry on the car, and it was never the same for the rest of the race.”

Beaver Falls, NY — In just his sixth NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series race, James Pritchard, Jr. has his first top ten finish. Pritchard, driving the No. 41 Mannings USA Chevrolet for James Pritchard Motorsports, finished tenth in Saturday’s Edge Hotel 150 at the Adirondack International Speedway in Beaver Falls, N.Y.

Pritchard, 18, found the half-mile circular track to be similar to Mahoning Valley Speedway, where he raced prior to moving up to the NASCAR touring series.

Beaver Falls, NY — Mike Olsen looks forward to the trek up north to Adirondack International Speedway every year. With a large contingent of Car-Freshner employees on hand, the 39-year-old driver strives to give his biggest supporters a strong performance in the Busch East Series’ closest visit to the companies Watertown, NY headquarters. All indications were pointing to him achieving that goal. Olsen led 13 laps in the early-running of the Edge Hotel 150, but fell off the pace at lap 134 while battling for the fourth position.

“Sometimes it’s with you and sometimes it isn’t,” Olsen said of his luck. “I’ve been a few years without any mechanical problems and this year I’ve got them. Tonight the fuel pump broke, and unfortunately, it happened late in the race and we just ran out of time trying to get it running.”

Thanks to persistent inclement weather and a forecast for more, the True Value Modified Racing Series caught a break in their busy schedule Saturday night, a cancellation at Monadnock Speedway, Winchester, NH; and now the popular touring division featuring open wheel modified race cars, will shift it’s focus on a return trip up Rte 95 to Scarborough, ME; to the historic Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Saturday night, August 4, for the “Beech Ridge 100.” The third annual event is also a “guaranteed starter” race for the upcoming Sunoco “Mod Mania” weekend at Thompson, CT; Sept 8,9. The popular 1/3 mile race facility for years has been rated by fans as one of the best short track venues in the country.

TVMRS fans will find a pair of Maine drivers, a Maine Hall of Fame car owner, and two former Beech Ridge winners leading a long list of entries that will attempt to qualify for the main event. Two years ago, in a surprise move, David Pinkham, Buxton ME, electrified the crowd as he piloted a car owned by Gary Casella, Saugus, MA; to victory. It was the first time the former Beech Ridge standout had driven a modified in several years. Just two weeks ago Pinkham made his first tour start this season in a car owned and prepared by Beech Ridge Hall of Fame inductee Goodwin Hannaford, Hollis, ME. Hannaford came out of retirement and lured Pinkham to wheel his racer. The two have partnered before as owner-driver and know the way to victory lane.

Waterford, CT — Jeff Paul bid farewell to a season-long string of bad luck Saturday night, handily capturing the 35-lap SK-Modified feature at Waterford Speedbowl. The sophomore SK driver survived a host of restarts as well as a late-race charge from Rob Janovic Jr. to win his first main event since August of 2006.

Bruce Thomas Jr. collected his seventh victory of the year in the 30-lap Late Model race.

Experience beat out youth Saturday night at Riverside Speedway in Groveton, New Hampshire when the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North Super Late Models came to town for their 150-lap Miller Lite Summerfest event.

Kelly Moore, the 1995 NASCAR Busch North Series champion and the winningest driver in Busch North/Busch East Series history, stayed barely ahead of Trevor Sanborn, an up and coming Maine driver, at the finish line to take the victory.

Seekonk, MA — Former Late Model front-runner Glenn Lawton of Acushnet, MA roared to victory for the first time in Seekonk Speedway’s top tier division, capturing the 40-lap Pro Stock feature on Saturday night, July 28. The 38 year-old former track champion started second in the event, passed early race leader Steve O’Brien on the third go-around, and held off veteran Dean Pettey to secure his 25th career win at the 1/3-mile Bay State oval. One minor caution slowed the event at lap 10, just after Pettey made a successful three-wide maneuver to pass John Dabrowski and David Hutchins for fourth.

When racing resumed, Pettey passed Hutchins and Scott Dion in rapid succession, assuming second place on lap 12. At the halfway point, Scott Fournier ran third, with 13th place starter Fred Astle, Jr., and Tom Scully, Jr. fourth and fifth. Astle used the outside lane to pass Fournier on lap 25 while point leader David Darling, slowed by heavy race traffic, ran eighth.

Scully overpowered Fournier for fourth with 10 circuits to go, as Lawton, Pettey, and Astle ran nose-to-tail at the head of the class. Pettey, who suffered significant body damage in the prior week’s event, fought a power steering problem throughout the race and was unable to get to the outside of Lawton without the benefit of a caution. In the end, the Westport native crossed under the checkers 0.37 seconds ahead of Pettey, becoming the first Pro Stock rookie to visit Victory Lane this year. “I can’t believe it,” the second generation racer declared. “It has been a dream of mine to win a Pro Stock race for 17 years. I hoped we would get one this year, but after the first week (when we wrecked), we went through a lot. I was starting to wonder. For the last 15 laps, I was just thinking ‘absolutely no cautions’. I didn’t want to see a yellow come out.”

Waterford, CT — Jeffrey Paul beat back a final challenge from Rob Janovic Jr. and captured Saturday night’s 35-lap SK-Modified feature. He grabbed the lead on lap 11 and then survived a host of restarts, the last with six left.

Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway returned to racing action on Friday night, July 27th with Craftsman Night at the Races. Race fans were treated to two Late Model feature events, with one event being made up from July 13th. Woody Pitkat won the SK Modified® and first Late Model feature for his second consecutive double dip, while Ryan Posocco won the regularly scheduled Late Model feature to break a break a tie with Jim Peterson as the division’s all-time winningest driver. Glen Reen took down the SK Light feature win, Rick Lanagan won the Limited Late Model feature, and Kyle Nosal turned in a dominating performance to score his first career DARE Stock win in the 15-lap feature event.

The 40-lap SK Modified® feature saw Woody Pitkat take down his second consecutive feature win. Willie Hardie took the lead from the pole and led the first 10 laps of the race. Pitkat made his move in turns 3+4 on lap-11 to overtake Hardie for the top spot. SK Modified® points leader Ted Christopher was glued to Pitakt’s back bumper throughout the second half of the race, with several caution periods keeping the field in close contact. The two race leaders had a near disaster on lap-39 as they had to avoid the lapped car of Frank Ruocco. Both Pitkat and Christopher made it by Ruocco unscathed, but the loss of momentum by Christopher allowed Pitkat all the margin he needed on the final lap of the race. Rounding out the top-5 behind Pitkat and Christopher was Eric Berndt, Kerry Malone, and Keith Rocco.

Boisvert’s Mill Street Auto Parts #47 Ford started on the pole in the 25-lap Kraze’s Speed Equipment Pure Stock feature and led every circuit to earn the win, the driver’s third career victory and first of the season at the Cement Palace. Point leader Bill Chouinard started last but was inside the top three in a flash, passing Scott Cestodio for third on lap 3, trailing only Boisvert and John A. Robidoux’s #39.

Sandusky, OH — Chris Perley continued his unbelievable performance on the ISMA-Wirtgen super series circuit Friday night at Sandusky. And, Perley continues to shake his head in disbelief. He once again set fast time and after starting 12th in a strong field of winged supers he worked his way quickly to the front. A challenge of his seemingly omnipresent rival Dave McKnight came once again as McKnight took the lead of the 40-lapper on lap 21 with Perley behind him. On lap 30, the 11 slung outside by the 94 off the fourth corner of the Sandusky half-mile, to take the lead from the Canadian – once again.

Standing in victory lane for the second consecutive year at Sandusky’s Hy-Miler prelim moments later Perley exclaimed, “This is crazy,” said the Rowley Rocket. “This was an intense, intense forty lapper. I got there and I couldn’t get there. On the restarts I was slower and couldn’t get going. I caught Dave and then I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t get to the outside. I thought I’d used it all up and then my car starting coming in. I just kept it out there – heating up the tires. Then all of a sudden I had a shot. I bounced off his right rear once down in three and four. Luckily it didn’t hurt either one of us. I made it stick. It’s phenomenal. I’d even take a second over a first if I can’t have a first. We’ll just see what tomorrow brings.”

Canaan, NH — The True Value Modified Racing Series is proud to announce that Racing Electronics has come on-board as the Official Communications Supplier for the 2007 season.

Racing Electronics, the leader in Professional Racing Communications will provide communications equipment for the True Value Modified Racing Series which is in its fourth year of operation. The True Value Modified Racing Series has seen tremendous growth in a short period of time and continues to be the fastest growing motor sports series in New England. The series allows Racing Electronics to be involved in a grassroots racing series that will help the company reach out to new racers and race fans.

Things in life change, just as the seasons change so it goes with life. Change is a constant. In New England they say “if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute.” If change is inevitable and time marches on what are we doing to insure we influence the direction of the future? We need to act in a way that will have a lasting effect on tomorrow. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Remember the old days? I am sure we all have stories of events, races, locked in our memory forever. We can recall them like they were yesterday. What about favorite drivers? We all have certain ones that for one reason or another we remember; memories that are burned into our minds forever.

How about heroes? There are people we look up to, separate them from others in our lives, as we seek to use their lives as motivation for ours. Do you have some heroes in your life? Do you look up to someone and desire to be like them?

Thompson, CT — Each of the six NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions provided its own brand of racing excitement during Thursday Night Thompson Thunder at the Thompson International Speedway on Thursday night. Jimmy “Showtime” Blewett of Howell, NJ, held off a stellar field of Sunoco Modified competitors to score his third win of the season. Dave Berghman of Seekonk, MA, led flag-to-flag in the Pro Stock 50-Lapper to score the popular victory. In other full-fendered action, Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI, scored a dramatic win to earn what appears to be his fifth triumph of the 2007 season. At press time, the Late Model feature finish was unofficial pending further technical inspection. Joe Arena of Kensington took down top honors in the Limited Sportsman division. Roger Larson, Jr. of Milford, MA, and Mike Romano of Pascoag, RI, were victorious in the TIS Modifieds and Mini Stocks respectively.

Jimmy Blewett of Howell, NJ enjoyed a rollercoaster of a ride in the Sunoco Modified feature to take down his third win of the season. Dave Salzarulo and Steve Masse both took brief turns at the head of the pack before John Blewett muscled his way into the top spot over Masse. Contact between Jimmy Blewett and Salzarulo caused a chain reaction deeper in the top ten collecting strong competitors Kerry Malone, Todd Ceravolo, Tommy Cravenho, and Geoff Gernhard.

Seekonk, MA — Seekonk Speedway assistant manager David Alburn announced today that the 1/3-mile Bay State oval’s Open Wheel Wednesday program which fell victim to rain on July 18, has been rescheduled in its entirety for Wednesday evening, August 29, at 7 PM. “We’ve heard from people from all over the Northeast, fans and competitors alike, in the week since the event was rained out,” Alburn explains. “The overwhelming consensus was that they wanted the show to go on exactly the way it had been planned on a future Wednesday night.” After meeting with officials from the True Value Modified Racing Series, Northeastern Midget Association, and Pro Four Modified Series, a deal was finalized late Wednesday.

The fastest and fiercest competitors in northeastern Modified racing circles are expected to converge upon the Route 6 facility for the third annual Open Wheel Wednesday program, featuring the Viveiros Insurance-sponsored 100 green flag lap Modified Madness event, an open competition race paying $10,000 to the winner. Last July, forty-two competitors from nine states attempted to qualify for the 26-car race, which carries a purse in excess of $31,000.

Seekonk, MA — Phil Viveiros, the proprietor of the Tiverton, RI based Phil’s Propane, firm, has added a $1,000 bonus to be divided among the three highest finishing Seekonk cars, that is, any Seekonk Late Model that has accumulated championship points in 2007. The highest finisher will claim a $500 bonus, with the second highest finisher earning an extra $300 and the third highest finisher pocketing an additional $200. Cars purchasing the Goodyear tires for the ACT event will be allowed to use them in Seekonk Speedway Late Model events as well.

Stafford, CT — Woody Pitkat’s home is only a few minutes down the road from Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford, CT. The young racer has called Stafford his home track mainly because of its close proximity, but also because the half-mile track was where Pitkat cut his racing teeth.

So far in 2007, however, Pitkat has found a new home. The best part is, he knows the way there quite well. He has found that home in Stafford Motor Speedway’s victory lane.

Nashville, TN — Jeff Anton has strung together consecutive top-ten finishes for the first time this year, following up last weekend’s tenth place finish at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway with a seventh on Sunday night in a 150-lap NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series event at the Music City Motorplex in Nashville, Tennessee.

Anton, driving the No. 30 Baran Institute of Technology/Engineered Floors, Inc. Chevrolet, entered the Music City 150 in a tight points battle that involved drivers running sixth through thirteenth in the standings, so every position gained or lost on the track was important. The venue was new to the series, but Anton liked it.

Nashville, TN — Matt Kobyluck was well on his way to a top-five finish in the NASCAR Busch East Series debut at Nashville’s Music City Motorplex Sunday night, but a tire issue relegated the driver to a 12th place finish. Kobyluck, however, was able to move up the points ladder with his finish.

“It was a good points night for us and we moved up to second,” he explained. “We’re in one piece and we got a 12th place finish out of it. Certainly I would have liked to have been in the top-10, but on that last restart the 35 car almost came down on us and we had to back out of it. Whether it was 9th or 10th or 11th or 12th it really doesn’t make much of a difference, but at the end of the season it might. We’re getting closer every week though and the guys are working really hard to close up the gap every week.”

The 18-year-old driver from Belgium posted a fourteenth place finish in the NASCAR Busch East Series 150 at Music City Motorplex in Nashville Sunday night. The finish was Dumarey’s first in the top-15 and continues a trend of improving performances since he jumped behind the wheel of Fadden Racing’s #16 BODYCOACH.NET Chevrolet.

“It’s only my sixth race on an oval and we’ve been gaining every week. I think just getting the seat time has been a big help, but this team is really starting to work well together. The guys on the crew really understand when I’m explaining something to them, and we’re just clicking,” he said.

Nashville, TN — Mike Olsen’s day ended after 23 laps in the NASCAR Busch East Series’ race at Nashville’s Music City Motorplex Sunday night when the rear-end in his No. 61 Little Trees Chevrolet broke and sent him into the turn one wall.

“Something broke in the rearend. It’s basically a CSI crime scene at the moment. We have a lot of evidence, but we have to take it back to the lab and analyze it. I don’t know exactly what happened,” he said.Olsen’s crew was unable to fix all the damage incurred by the incident, and parked the car for the day.

Naples, ME — When you win hundreds of stock car races in the Northeast and a PASS South Super Late Model championship like Mike Rowe has, or three PASS North titles and a slew of major Super Late Model and Late Model races like his son Ben Rowe has, there are certain things that you learn.

Those lessons come in handy when it comes to surviving a tough race. They especially came in handy when Mike Rowe won Sunday’s IWK 250 PASS North race at Riverside Speedway in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. They also worked out pretty well for Ben, who finished in the runner-up spot.

Naples, ME — As the contenders around them fell to various problems, Mike Rowe and his son Ben rose to the top on Sunday afternoon in the IWK 250 Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North event at Riverside Speedway in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The race was delayed from Saturday night until Sunday afternoon due to rain.

Mike Rowe won the race over Ben Rowe, but it didn’t come easily. Both Maine racers had flat tires during the event. They did fare better though than many of their competitors. Johnny Clark and Shawn Turple battled with Mike Rowe for the lead, but both were involved in wrecks. Former NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver Ricky Craven also wrecked. Heat race winner Bill Penfold suffered from a mechanical problem with his #0 machine.

Mooresville, NC — Joey Logano doesn’t know how to play the guitar – the legendary trophy that goes to any winner at the Fairgrounds track in Nashville, TN. But if things would have gone his way on Sunday night, he surely would have taken lessons. Instead, Logano will have to watch a fellow racer play guitar, while Logano thinks of what might have been.

Logano finished an impressive second in the NASCAR Busch East Series 150-lap event at Nashville’s historic Music City Motorplex at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds on Sunday evening, despite running out of gas as the field went through a green-white-checkered finish with his Joe Gibbs Driven #20 Chevrolet.

Waterford, CT — Back a month or so, Shawn Monahan decided to commit to a drive for the 2007 Waterford Speedbowl SK-Modified championship. It has not, however, slowed him down.

The Speedbowl mainstay who won his second victory of 2007 last week, takes a slim eight-point lead over Rob Janovic Jr. into Saturday night’s 35-lap feature. Dennis Gada, who finished a frustrating fourth last week, is still in the hunt as well, just 24 back.

Groton, CT — After two straight successful events it appeared as if the season, which has been plagued by inclement weather so far, was getting back on track for the Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA). But torrential rains in the area forced the postponement of the mid-week special planned for Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at the Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk, MA.

This marked the second time this season that an event at Seekonk Speedway was affected by rain. Officials from NEMA and Seekonk Speedway are still searching for a suitable replacement date. Details will be made available as soon as possible.

Lexington, NC — C&C Racing Promotions recently announced the appointment of Chuck Handley of Oswego, NY as the Race Director of the first Annual East-West Supermodified Shootout™. The independent Supermodified race will be held in conjunction with the 5th Annual North-South Shootout™ on November 2&3, 2007 at ConcordMotorsportPark in Concord, NC. Handley will oversee the rules implementation and enforcement as well as many of the race day activities for the Supermodifieds.

“It is important for us to protect the integrity of the North-South Shootout™,” said Promoter Charles Kepley, “and the best way to do that is to have honest, hard working and dedicated people on our staff. It is an honor and a privilege to have Chuck Handley as part of our team.”